Storage and dosing station for storage and dispensing dosed quantities of solid drug portions

Abstract

A storage and dosing station for storage and dispensing dosed quantities of solid drug portions includes a controller, an information reading device coupled to the controller, a dispensing mechanism, a detachable storage container configured to store solid drug portions, an outlet configured to output the solid drug portions and an information memory. The information memory may store data that comprises one of a glossiness level of a surface of the solid drug portions and a reflectivity level of the surface of the solid drug portions that is used by the controller to control dispensing of the solid drug portions; that is used by the controller to adjust a sensor; and that comprises parameters of movement of the dispensing mechanism of one or more of maximum torque, rotation angles, and rotation positions of the movement of the dispensing mechanism used by the controller to control dispensing of the solid drug portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A storage and dosing station comprising:
 a controller; 
 a dispensing mechanism; 
 an information reading device coupled to the controller; 
 a detachable storage container configured to store solid drug portions; 
 an outlet configured to output the solid drug portions; and 
 an information memory, wherein the information reading device is configured to read information stored in the information memory, wherein the information memory stores data comprising one of a glossiness level of a surface of the solid drug portions and a reflectivity level of the surface of the solid drug portions that is used by the controller to control dispensing of the solid drug portions. 
 
     
     
       2. The storage and dosing station of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to monitor the dispensing of the solid drug portions through the outlet. 
     
     
       3. The storage and dosing station of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor and the information memory stores data comprising optical characteristics of the solid drug portions contained in the storage container, wherein the controller adjusts the optical sensor based on the optical characteristics. 
     
     
       4. The storage and dosing station of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the sensor based on background light conditions. 
     
     
       5. The storage and dosing station of  claim 1 , wherein the information memory stores data determining movement of a drive coupled to the dispensing mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The storage and dosing station of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing mechanism contains an identifier, and wherein the detachable storage container comprises a reader for reading and storing the identifier to be read by the information reading device. 
     
     
       7. The storage and dosing station of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to verify that the storage and dosing station is compatible with the solid drug portions stored in the detachable storage container upon attachment of the detachable storage container. 
     
     
       8. A storage and dosing station comprising:
 a controller; 
 a dispensing mechanism; 
 a sensor; 
 an information reading device coupled to the controller; 
 a detachable storage container configured to store solid drug portions; 
 an outlet configured to output the solid drug portions; and 
 an information memory, wherein the information reading device is configured to read information stored in the information memory, wherein the information memory stores data that is used by the controller to adjust the sensor. 
 
     
     
       9. The storage and dosing station of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is configured to monitor the dispensing of the solid drug portions through the outlet. 
     
     
       10. The storage and dosing station of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the sensor based on one of background light conditions and optical characteristics of the solid drug portions contained in the detachable storage container. 
     
     
       11. The storage and dosing station of  claim 8 , wherein the information memory stores data determining movement of a drive coupled to the dispensing mechanism. 
     
     
       12. The storage and dosing station of  claim 8 , wherein the dispensing mechanism contains an identifier, and wherein the detachable storage container comprises a reader for reading and storing the identifier to be read by the information reading device. 
     
     
       13. The storage and dosing station of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to verify that the storage and dosing station is compatible with the solid drug portions stored in the detachable storage container upon attachment of the detachable storage container. 
     
     
       14. A storage and dosing station comprising:
 a controller; 
 a dispensing mechanism; 
 a drive coupled to the dispensing mechanism; 
 an information reading device coupled to the controller; 
 a detachable storage container configured to store solid drug portions; 
 an outlet configured to output the solid drug portions; and 
 an information memory, wherein the information reading device is configured to read information stored in the information memory, wherein the information memory stores data comprising parameters of movement of the dispensing mechanism, the parameters comprising one or more of maximum torque, rotation angles, and rotation positions of the movement of the dispensing mechanism, the parameters used by the controller to control dispensing of the solid drug portions. 
 
     
     
       15. The storage and dosing station of  claim 14 , further comprising a sensor configured to monitor the dispensing of the solid drug portions through the outlet. 
     
     
       16. The storage and dosing station of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor and the information memory stores data comprising optical characteristics of the solid drug portions contained in the storage container, wherein the controller adjusts the optical sensor based on the optical characteristics. 
     
     
       17. The storage and dosing station of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the sensor based on background light conditions. 
     
     
       18. The storage and dosing station of  claim 14 , wherein the dispensing mechanism contains an identifier, and wherein the detachable storage container comprises a reader for reading and storing the identifier to be read by the information reading device. 
     
     
       19. The storage and dosing station of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to verify that the storage and dosing station is compatible with the solid drug portions stored in the detachable storage container upon attachment of the detachable storage container. 
     
     
       20. The storage and dosing station of  claim 14 , wherein the drive comprises an electric motor and a measuring element configured to measure a current through the electric motor, the controller configured to reverse the electric motor when the current detected by the measuring element exceeds a predefined value.